Crackdown on using mobile phones at the wheel

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) embarked on a week long campaign from 23 January 2017 in an attempt to crackdown on drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving. Police forces across the UK, including West Yorkshire Police, have joined forces, to raise awareness of the dangers of using a mobile phone at the wheel.

New legislation is set to come into force in March 2017 which will see the penalties for using a phone at the wheel double. Under current legislation, drivers are faced with receiving 3 points on their licence and a £100 fine. The new legislation will see drivers being issued with 6 points of their licence and a £200 fine.

Furthermore, at present, drivers who are caught using a phone at the wheel may be eligible for a driver improvement course. When the new legislation comes into force, there will no longer be an option to take part in the course.

In September 2016, the RAC published figures from their 2016 Motoring Report. They declared that the number of drivers who admit to using hand-held mobile phones has increased from 8% in 2014 to 31% in 2016. In West Yorkshire alone, the offence has risen from 2785 in 2014 to 3631 in 2016.

The NPCC campaign comes further to the campaign which they ran in November 2016 where 36 police forces across the UK issued 7,966 mobile phone offences over a week-long period.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further information on the new legislation and how this impacts on the potential consequences if you are caught using your phone at the wheel.